Tires

[Amon]

A full season on ONE set of tires? How many weekends are you racing for that type of expense?

[CenDiv4]

Bill,

Curious question here.... since next year without "Nationals" and "Regionals" throughout the upcoming year we will be mixing FV and FST, I would expect at some events that in the past years were not possible....

Anyways, how comparable on lap time will a FST with the high count of heat cycles tires and higher horsepower be to a FV on new slicks?

Thanks

JD

[Bill Bonow]

I'll answer on a PM as this thread is not a comparative thread and don't want this to slide into anything negative.

[Agitator]

Maybe the sales pitch, but not the reality. I started FV in 1973 and did so about as cheaply as it could be done and be reasonably competitive. A particular FV front runner that used to send me his take off tires shared with me his yearly budget for 1978, 40K. My '78 budget was about 4K, including the runoffs, but I did everything, drove a $500 ford wagon, camped out, built my engines, etc. In 78 I bought two new sets of tires. 8 races including the runoffs (single race weekends back then). Most of the front runners were using two sets a weekend, which helped me as I had those to pick from.

I'm late to this thread, and I know Barry. I'm gonna guess off line who spent $40K in 1978, but wanted to chime in that you COULD run up front back then and do it CHEAPLY. The only caveat being that you might have to spend an INORDINATE amount of time in the shop! My memory may be a little fuzzy, but I'm pretty sure that in '76 we used 3 sets of tires the ENTIRE National season. We won 5 of 6 Nationals that year (one engine failure) and lead every single lap of the season, including every lap at the Runoffs. At the '82 or '83 Runoffs we put the car on the front row with front tires that ran 2 qualifying sessions and an entire race at the PREVIOUS year's Runoffs.

The 70's and 80's were a time of very interesting developments in FV, and as time goes by there can only be less and less advancement when working with 50+ year old technology. There's no way to be competitive Nationally now without having a sizable tire budget. Fresh tires are more and more important. I don't want this to turn into a "good old days" post, but there certainly was a time when you could win in this class without being the guy that spent the most amount of money.

[BLS]

"...but wanted to chime in that you COULD run up front back then and do it CHEAPLY. The only caveat being that you might have to spend an INORDINATE amount of time in the shop!"

James, you are absolutely correct and my comment may be a bit misleading. Of course, very few of us are as talented as your dad...

I was responding to this comment, as it pertains to the somewhat less skilled:

"In the early Seventies the sales pitch of FV was this :
The cars are cheap to buy. Cheap to race. Tune the engine, put on new tires & race all season long with nothing more than gas & oil changes."

I'm sure you know the 40K budget and that was on the extreme end I'm certain. I probably should not have quoted that figure. There are certainly those running up front today spending less than this even before inflation adjustment. Perhaps that "sales pitch" is correct if you are willing to settle for being a bit less competitive. I should also add, I have no problem with someone spending as much as they want to get there, I just don't quite have that ability.

I have the highest respect for your Dad and the others that have spent the time developing a winning program. I wish I had that capability.

[Steve Bamford]

There seems to be decent interest in the possible July race at Mid Ohio with a single class FV grouping. Maybe part of the decline is tire expense & all other expenses combined, however I am sure another part of the decline is also due to the product offered. Offer single class groups might make a big difference. There could only be a few of these type of events per year but might help bring back some decent fields.

[Diamond Level Motorsports]

There seems to be decent interest in the possible July race at Mid Ohio with a single class FV grouping. Maybe part of the decline is tire expense & all other expenses combined, however I am sure another part of the decline is also due to the product offered. Offer single class groups might make a big difference. There could only be a few of these type of events per year but might help bring back some decent fields.

I would would agree that the multiple classes, on the track at the same time, is the single biggest factor regarding people leaving the class.

[Matt King]

I would would agree that the multiple classes, on the track at the same time, is the single biggest factor regarding people leaving the class.

Chicken or egg? Small turnout leads to multiple class groupings. Grow class participation and field sizes and single class groupings can become a non-issue.

[Steve Bamford]

Agreed 100 percent. Next July the FV community has a chance to show everyone how much they would/could support a single class event. Sorry to stray off the thread topic.

[nbrigido]

I would second that! singles class group could/would increase possible participation.

[Daryl DeArman]

I would second that! singles class group could/would increase possible participation.

Don't you mean an increase in participation would/could result in a single class groups?

There is a tipping point where which an increase in entry number results in more people flocking to the class as well as where a decrease in entry number results in more people fleeing the class. Wonder where that is?